Objective: To elucidate the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) names of Chrysanthemi Flos through a textual study on the literal meaning of Chrysanthemi Flos.Method: Dictionaries and Chinese herbal medicine books between the Han dynasty and the Qing dynasty were consulted for a textual study on the meaning and origin of the name of Chrysanthemi Flos.Result: ‘蘜 (Ju)’ is interpreted as the TCM name of Chrysanthemi Flos

and ‘菊 (Ju)’ is interpreted as the Da ju(大菊)

and Qu mai(蘧麦)

which now refers to TCM Dianthi Herba

in the Erya and Shuo Wenjiezi and Yupian (《玉篇》) and Jiyun. This is consistent with plant drawings in the photolithographs of the Erya of the Song dynasty. In the Guangyun

a dictionary of the Song dynasty

it is mistakenly believed that ‘鞠 (Ju)’ and ‘菊’ in Liji were the same. Actually

鞠 and 蘜 are variant Chinese characters. 菊 has been used to refer to Chrysanthemi Flos in the Chinese herbal medicine books after the Guangyun. Till the Qing dynasty

Duan Yu-cai restated that 菊 referred to the TCM Dianthi Herba

and ju(蘜) referred to the TCM Chrysanthemi Flos in the Shuowen Jiezi Zhu

and 蘜 is interpreted as 蘜 in the Zhengzitong. The 菊花 glyph has been adopted in the Chinese herbal medicine books since the Zhongxiu Zhenghe Jingshi Zhenglei Bencao. However

because the literal meaning of 蘜 expresses the characteristics of the plant morphology

it is more suitable to be used as the name of the TCM Chrysanthemi Flos.Conclusion: By comparing between the ancient literatures and previous Chinese herbal medicine books

illuminating the literal meanings

distinguishing clearly the relationship between the literal meaning and the TCM names and finding out the reasons for changes the name

this study provides the reference value for consulting ancient literatures and books in studying Chinese herbal medicines.